December is a month chock full of celebrations. It seems every weekend is an excuse to get together with friends and family, and it’s a perfect time to pull out all the stops and make everything a little extra special.
To me, candy canes are the quintessential holiday candy. They’re cute, great for making all kinds of crafts, and super inexpensive. Here are a few fun ideas you can use to kick things up a notch this year using candy canes.
(They’re all simple to do, but if you need the ‘how-to’s’ just click on the link below the photo.)
These little snowball treats are put together using Rice Krispies. Add some sprinkle to your whipped cream and you’ve got yourself an extra special cup of hot cocoa.
These little reindeers are adorable, and all you need is some yarn, ‘eyes’ and the all-important craft tool, a glue gun.
How about a candy cane wreath? You can place it on your door of course, but what about behind your dining chairs for a festive touch? For smaller wreaths, just buy smaller candy canes.
Source
These little sleds are so clever, and easy to put together too. Who wouldn’t love getting one of these filled with treats?
You know how I feel about place cards, right? They add so much to a table, and can be super useful too. I think this one would be great to identify various dishes on a buffet table also.
Source
I made this vase a couple of years ago. If you’re on Pinterest at all, you’ve seen it. It couldn’t be easier to put together. For the ‘how-to’ go here. Tip: you could do this with large candles too.
In other news…
We’ve got the Grands this weekend, and we’ll be taking them to see a local Hansel & Gretal show Saturday and maybe we’ll make some cookies. I found an unbelievably easy recipe that uses flour tortillas so there’s no mixing of dough involved. If it comes out good I’ll try to share next week. This will be the last time we see them until April!
kim says
Doreen
Did you do this post just for me? I know you did!
I’ve been searching for craft/treat ideas for my grands while they are
here visiting. I love the rice crispy w/candy cane project.
Doreen says
I did indeed do it for you Kim ;). Hope you and your grands enjoy!
xxx
Kimberley says
Hi Doreen! 🙂
Loved these, especially the candy cane wreath, I love how when you put 2 candy canes together it makes a heart, sometimes I put 2 candy canes like that on top of a present so it looks like a heart! 🙂
I also love that place card idea, may use that one this year, cute!
Have fun with the grands this weekend…and if you feed them lots of candy canes they will be able to stay up with you dancing the night away! 😉
Have a wonderful weekend!!
Kimberley
Julie says
Hello Doreen,
I loved everything you shard especially the little candy Santa sleighs!
Have a fun time and weekend with the grands!
Julie xo
Debbie from MountainMama says
Super cute ideas, Doreen!! I don’t know which one is my favorite but I’m leaning towards the little sleds!! Have a great time with the grandbabies – give them enough hugs to last them until April. xo
Amy @ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes says
All of those ideas are great, but that wreath is the cutest! The place card holder is pretty sweet, too. Enjoy the grands!
Cyn says
Such cute ideas! I may have to try one or 4 of them too. 🙂
Enjoy your kiddos!
Cecilia says
Oh I love all the candy cane ideas. I just might have to make the place holder ones to identify the dishes on our Christmas brunch table. Have fun with your Grands!
When do you leave on your camping trip?
Have a great week!
Doreen says
Hi Cecelia! I think you definitely should do that for a brunch table. So easy and cute!
We are leaving Tuesday!! Getting excited (and a little nervous) lol.
Kris @ Junk Chic Cottage says
Good morning Doreen,
These are all such great ideas. I have made the santa sleds before. They are fun and easy to do and make cute little gifts.
Have a great new week ahead.
Kris
Cindi says
Oh my gosh, these are all so cute!
Great ideas!
Have fun with your Grands!
xoxo
Rose L. says
The wreath and the name tag holders are my favorites!
Jemma says
Doreen,
I think I am like Kim-I have some grands coming to visit me this coming weekend and these would adorable crafts to make.
A really cute craft and a great alternative to decorating cookies!
Pinning away…
Oh, I see you and I are leaving comments on each others blog at the same time-we seem to do that frequently!
xx
Jemma
AnnMarie says
How sweet are these candy cane crafts! Pinned them for future craft time with my grandchildren. Enjoy your time with yours!
Jane says
These are such good ideas, Doreen. I love when you give us ideas you’ve found—I spend way too much time online and this is so helpful! I love the little wreath and the candy canes stuck in the marshmallows with the mugs of cocoa. I know many kids who would love this.
Thanks again for ‘listening’. Wow—I had so many typos! I get on a roll for sure!
Happy Holidays and it would be lovely to really talk one day.
Jane x
carrie@northwoods scrapbook says
Such fun ideas Doreen!! What did we ever do before Pinterest? Lol I especially love that vase you made. And I want to slurp up that cocoa – yum!! 😉
Hope you’ve been having a fun weekend with the Grands!! Blessings my dear Friend. xoox
Kim says
So many cute…and yummy…ideas. I love that place card craft. May have to do that…it could serve double duty. Sit here and by the way, it’s your dessert! 😉 Just joshing!
kelly says
I love the name card holder made from candy canes. Too cute and so easy! I like that the person can take them home afterwards too. Thanks for all of the fun inspiration.
benita says
These ideas are too cute, especially the placecard holder….adorable! I love to use candy canes in decorating for the holidays but do not like to eat them…I know, I’m a weirdo…LOL
Poppy says
All fun and fabulous festive goodies, Doreen, but I have to say, YOUR own candy cane vase is seasonally scrumptious and super practical and pretty!
Hope you had a blast with the grands! For some reason, I’m suddenly craving gingerbread…Hmm…Hansel and Gretel, eh?
xxx
Poppy
Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow says
These are all so cute! Enjoy those precious grands! 🙂
Red Rose Alley says
OK, these are some of the cutest ideas I’ve seen this Christmas, Doreen. I LOVE CANDY CANES!! I’m going to have to show this post to the girls. They love to do crafts like this sometimes. That wreath is wonderful, and the little reindeers are adorable hehehehe. Jess is having Christmas dinner at her house this year, and she would love the place card idea. So glad I came over to see these, Doreen.
It sounds like you are keeping the spirit of Christmas alive in your heart.
Enjoy the Hansel and Gretal show with your Grandkids this weekend, how fun!
~Sheri
tammy j says
oh they’re all so clever and adorable!
and when I heard hansel and gretel i remembered the marine and the year he was 4.
after the story being read to him… he took a little jar of roofing nails from the garage…
then proceeded to walk to the end of our street dropping them as he went … as bread crumbs you know.
funny when his bread crumb nails started showing up in all the neighbors’ tires. well. not so funny.
our dad was NOT pleased!
my email is DEAD. can receive but not send. AAAGGGH. xoxoxo♥
Doreen says
Oh Tammy! That story is hysterical! Hansel and Gretel is indeed a ‘Grimm’ fairytale. I wonder if it would even be allowed to be published today?! Think about it…their father and step mom (and why are step moms always maligned?) decide to leave them in the woods?? Seriously??
Guess what? For about two weeks I haven’t been getting any comment notifications in my inbox until…drum roll please…yours! Now it’s fixed. You worked your magic. Now if only you could work it on your own email issues.
Hope you had a great weekend with your family!
xxx
Rowhomesandcobblestones says
Doreen,
I have always loved candy canes and of course peppermint bark candy. Candy canes are a happy little treat that like your sources (really cute ideas) demonstrate they are not only for use on gifts and to enjoy the taste satisfying yumminess. Love your vase, can I copy your idea for a hostess gift?
Thanks for your visit and the sweet words left behind. Stop back on the 21st for my Holiday presentation, a play, a wedding, two countries!
xoxo,
Vera
Rowhomesandcobblestones says
Doreen,
Vanished, zap, just loss my comment! OK, I’ll try again! Loved all your ideas for Candy canes, especially your vase. I hope you do not mind me using your idea for a hostess gift. I love the taste of candy canes, oh and Peppermint Bark is outstanding. I crack up candy canes and sprinkle them on ice cream – no calories there!!!
Thank you for your visit and your sweet words you left behind.
xoxo,
Vera
Doreen says
Hi Vera! Thanks so much! Your comment wasn’t lost, but that’s ok, now I get to read it twice ;).
Hope you do the vase project. Another option is using a large candle, and placing the candy canes upside down so their tops are on the bottom of the candle (hope that makes sense).
Dewena says
Even I might be able to pull off the candy cane placecards! King Leo peppermint candy has been made here in Nashville for over a hundred years and we always have to buy some for Christmas–for medicinal purposes only, of course!
Travel safely, dear friend and have a blast–I know you will!